Smith, Henriques give Blues Shield lead

Date: January 25 2013

A timely half-century to Steve Smith should thrust him to the front of Test selectors thoughts after the allrounder gave NSW a 21-run first innings lead in their Sheffield Shield clash with Western Australia on Friday.

Smith and fellow Test hopeful Moises Henriques (62 not out) combined to carry the Blues past WA's first innings total of 242 by stumps on day two and strengthen their cases for Test call-ups as NSW finished the day on 6-263.

On a wicket in which no batsmen prior to him looked truly settled Smith posted a classy 72, showing tremendous patience and some spirited counter-attacking batting - both qualities which have him in contention for a spot on Australia's four-Test tour of India next month.

That squad, expected to be announced on Thursday, will need to include a replacement for the retired Michael Hussey and a backup batsman - roles for which Smith is being strongly considered, alongside the likes of Usman Khawaja, Glenn Maxwell, David Hussey and George Bailey.

For 194 minutes, Smith successfully navigated the variable bounce and significant turn on the slow wicket, excelling where others failed - striking the first half-century and hitting nine fours on the way before a sharp catch to Marcus Harris at short mid-wicket off Jason Behrendorff (2-39).

Before Smith, eight batsmen from both sides had reached 20, but all had fallen before 50.

Henriques also did his Test ambitions no harm by passing 50, also withstanding a bruising spell from Nathan Coulter-Nile (2-58) to close out the day.

While Smith's innings was chanceless, Henriques' was more aggressive and he was afforded a life on 14 when dropped by Liam Davis off the bowling of spinner Ashton Agar.

With Henriques on 17 he sent a scare through the Blues camp when he was thumped on the thumb by a Coulter-Nile short ball and tossed his gloves and helmet to the ground.

It was the same thumb he injured last week while in camp with the Australian ODI side, and the blow left him wincing in pain.

Coulter-Nile was the pick of the WA quicks, while left-armer Agar (2-82) was impressive on debut.

AAP

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